Okay First question :
file permissions I know if I use wsftp it does not reflect the current permissions only what the last command was unless you close and reopen it.
Do you have another avenue to double check the permissions.
Second:
Since you moved to a new host the path may not be correct meaning your control panel has one path but you are changing permissions on a different directory.
Make a file called say pathto.php;
Insert
in the file . Upload it to the directory in queston. then run it from your browser.
This will verify what the absolute path is to that directory.
What sirdude says is correct also.
When you run the test it creates that file to see if the directory is writable. Maybe that file is bad if it exists.
